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New York Capital Brief:
June 27, 2025


NYS Democratic Primary Updates

Several NYS municipalities held primaries on Tuesday, June 24th the most noteworthy of which resulted in a primary night concession speech by former New York Govenor Andrew Cuomo to Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani as the winner of the Democratic primary for NYC mayor. Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani unexpectedly beat the former Governor by 7 points in the first round of ranked choice voting. Media reports indicate that Cuomo is weighing the feasibility of running as an independent in the general election. The ballot will also include incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, who dodged the Democratic primary and will run on an independent line, and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa.

State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal is on pace to win the Democratic primary for Manhattan Borough President and will likely win election to that office in November leaving his longtime NYS Senate seat open.

In Upstate mayoral races, Albany City Auditor Dorcey Applyrs handily won the Democratic primary for Albany Mayor with 52% of the vote. Dan Cerutti, the next closest challenger, had 28% of the vote. Applyrs is positioned to go on to be Albany’s first Black mayor. In Buffalo, State Senator Sean Ryan secured the Democratic nomination with 47% of the vote, beating out acting Mayor Chris Scanlon. However, Scanlon may run on an independent line. Assuming Ryan goes on to win the general election, there will be another vacant seat in the NYS Senate. In Rochester, incumbent Mayor Malik Evans won the nomination with 57% of the vote overcoming Mary Lupien, the next closest challenger. In Syracuse, Deputy Mayor Sharon Owens took the nomination with 62% of the vote. She would be Syracuse’s first Black mayor if she goes on to win the general election.

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New York Capital Brief:
June 13, 2025


Medical Aid in Dying Passes Both Houses

The Medical Aid in Dying Act (“MAID”), sponsored by Assemblymember Amy Paulin and Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal (A.136/S.138) was passed by the Senate this week by a vote of 35-27. This legislation was previously passed by the Assembly at the end of April by a vote of 81-67. This legislation has been pending for 10 years and allows the terminally ill with six months or less to live to be prescribed and self-administer drugs to end their life. Proponents of the bill argue the bill promotes personal autonomy in allowing the terminally ill to die with dignity, if they so choose. Opponents of the bill have characterized it as a disrespect for life. It is unclear where Governor Hochul stands on the issue. If signed by the Governor, New York would be the 12th state in the nation to allow this practice.

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New York Capital Brief:
May 30, 2025


Session Calendar

The 2025 session calendar is winding down fast as members hurry to advance their priority legislation. On the Senate side there are 7 session days left. In the Assembly there are at least 9 session days left as Speaker Heastie has extended the calendar through June 17 to make up for the late budget. Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins has said the Senate will stick to the regularly scheduled calendar and plans to end on June 12.

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New York Capital Brief:
May 16, 2025


Enacted Budget

Last week, the $254 billion 2025-2026 NYS budget was enacted over 5 weeks past the April 1st deadline making it the latest budget in 15 years. With less than a month left in the regular legislative session, both houses will be focused on negotiating and passing priority bills.  Among the high-profile bills under consideration: potential reform to the CDPAP program, legislation to allow medical aid in dying, a slate of prison reform bills in response to the deaths of incarcerated individuals and extended producer responsibility (EPR) legislation that seeks to mandate manufacturer’s responsibilities for packaging reduction, recycling and reuse.

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New York Capital Brief:
May 02, 2025


NYS Budget Update 

On Thursday, the Legislature passed a tenth budget extender (A.8115/S.7707) allowing for emergency appropriations through Wednesday, May 7. Assembly Ways and Means Chair Gary Pretlow indicated this should be the last budget extender before a final budget is passed. Senate Finance Chair Liz Krueger reiterated that she really hopes budget bills are printed and ready to be voted on by Monday of next week or shortly then after, but could not confirm for certain.

Despite Governor Hochul’s announcement on Monday that a general budget agreement had been reached, a handful of issues still need to be ironed out including school aid, several housing issues, the question of whether the State’s unemployment insurance debt owed to the federal government will be paid off, and DOCCS reform. The DOCCS reforms being negotiated include expanding early releases based on merit time and lowering the age a correctional officer can work from 21 to 18 to address the shortage of workers after the weekslong strikes. Additionally, the Governor is now seeking the authority to cut up to $2 billion in state spending without legislative approval to be able to respond swiftly to emergency situations like increased costs caused by tariffs and federal cuts to state aid.

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New York Capital Brief
April 18, 2025


NYC Mayoral Race Update

Former Governor Andrew Cuomo continues to hold a commanding lead in the polls for NYC mayor with 34% of voters supporting him followed by Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani with 16% of voters supporting the Assemblymember. The rest of the contenders all polled in the single digits. Cuomo’s lead comes despite a technical error denying him millions in public matching funds, which has since been addressed. Mamdani raked in $4 million in matching funds, the largest amount any mayoral candidate has received during this election cycle.

Cuomo faced another setback this week after AI software, ChatGPT, was cited in a section of his housing plan and incoherent text was found throughout the plan, leading his rivals to criticize his use of the AI software on one of the most important policy issues NYC faces. A spokesperson for Cuomo affirmed ChatGPT was not used to craft actual policy, but instead for grammar and spelling, defending the use of the software.

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New York Capital Brief:
April 04, 2025


Budget Update 

Yesterday the Legislature passed a second budget extender (A7635/S7156) allowing for emergency appropriations through Monday, April 7 as the April 3 deadline for the first budget extender was not met. Governor Hochul’s policy priorities are holding up the budget process as parties are still dug in on issues like discovery reform, involuntary commitment, as well as a potential mask ban in cases where one is masked while threatening violence, which was not included in the Governor’s initial budget proposal. Senate Finance Chair Liz Krueger recently expressed frustration with policy taking up all the air with negotiations as she told Politico “We’re not even discussing numbers. She’s obsessed with her policy, and she doesn’t even want to talk about the other stuff. It’s frustrating.”

Next week will be the last chance to wrap up the budget before the scheduled two-week legislative break to observe Passover and Easter. While it is still possible the budget will be voted on before the break, there is a chance these negotiations could be extended further.

We will continue to keep you updated as negotiations proceed.

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New York Capital Brief
October 31, 2024


2024 General Election State Primer
 

NYS Senate

Leadership

  • Andrea Stewart-Cousins (Westchester) is not being challenged.

Key Chair Positions

  • Senate Health Chair Gustavo Rivera (Bronx) did not face a primary challenger and is expected to retain his seat.
  • Senate Insurance Chair Neil Breslin (Albany) is retiring. Current Assembly Member Fahy is running unopposed to take the seat. The next Chair of Senate Insurance will be chosen in January.
  • Senate Consumer Affairs Chair Kevin Thomas (Nassau) is resigning. The next Chair of Senate Consumer Affairs will be chosen in January.
  • Senate Disabilities Chair John Mannion (Onondaga/Oswego) is running for Congress. The next Chair of Senate Disabilities will be chosen in January.
  • Senate Transportation Chair Tim Kennedy (Erie) was elected to Congress via special election. The Chair of Senate Transportation was chosen to be Senator Jeremy Cooney.

 
Close Races

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New York Capital Brief
July 26, 2024


Committee Chair Vacancies
This election cycle has already created changes within the State Legislature, as various Standing Committee Chair positions have become vacant. While some positions were vacated due to impending retirement, many committees had the leadership post announce a run for higher office. The Committee Chair positions that are expected to be, or are already, vacated are:

•    Assembly Corporations Authorities and Commissions
•    Assembly Higher Education
•    Assembly Local Governments
•    Assembly Tourism, Arts and Sports Development
•    Assembly Veterans Affairs

•    Senate Consumer Protection
•    Senate Disabilities
•    Senate Ethics and Internal Governance
•    Senate Insurance

Please note that all New York State Legislators are up for reelection this November. No statewide positions, such as Governor, Attorney General, or Comptroller, are up for reelection.

Equal Rights Amendment
This November, New York State voters will consider a significant constitutional amendment known as the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). This proposed amendment aims to expand the current anti-discrimination protections in the New York State Constitution. Specifically, it seeks to prohibit discrimination based on a person’s ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy outcomes, and reproductive health care and autonomy.

This amendment follows the passage of similar measures in other states and is part of a broader movement to update civil rights protections. The proposed ERA was passed by the New York State Legislature in two successive sessions, first in June 2022 and again in January 2023, in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. The amendment has been framed as a way to protect reproductive rights, among other civil rights, although it does not explicitly reference abortion.

Advocates have clamored for additional protections, such as the inclusion of LGBT individuals. The New York State Board of Elections will determine final ballot language on July 29, 2024.

The amendment will be on the ballot for voter ratification on November 5, 2024. If approved, it would add these new protections to the New York State Constitution, ensuring broader civil rights and anti-discrimination measures for all New Yorkers.

Democratic Support
Governor Kathy Hochul has been significantly involved in fundraising efforts to support Democrats in Congress for the upcoming elections. In the first half of 2024, Hochul raised over $7.3 million, setting a record for a New York Governor at this stage in the election cycle. This substantial amount includes $5.8 million for her re-election bid and $1.4 million for the state Democratic Party. Since January 2023, she has raised more than $22 million combined for her campaign and the party.

Hochul’s fundraising efforts are crucial as Democrats aim to flip congressional seats in New York and regain control of the House. She has emphasized the importance of having a robust infrastructure to support Democratic candidates across the State and has been working closely with figures like Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries to bolster the party’s prospects.
Congestion Pricing Update

After Governor Hochul announced on June 5, 2024 that the implementation of congestion pricing would be “paused,” questions remain on the status of the program. This week, two different lawsuits were filed in opposition to the pause in implementation. Both suits were filed by environmental and commuter advocacy groups, and both suits seek to have a judge affirm the legality of the congestion pricing program.

In response to the lawsuits, a spokesman for Governor Hochul’s office confirmed that 11 separate congestion pricing lawsuits have been filed over the last several weeks: two to move the program forward, 9 suits seeking to prevent the program in full. The latest pair of suits contends that the Governor had no authority to “pause” the implementation, and that pausing congestion pricing affects New Yorkers recently enshrined constitutional right to a clean environment.

The congestion pricing plan was designed to reduce traffic congestion in Manhattan’s central business district by imposing tolls on vehicles entering the area south of 60th Street. The expected revenue from these tolls, estimated at $1 billion annually, was intended to fund Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) projects. With the program on hold, the MTA now potentially faces a $15 billion budget shortfall.
Federal Election Update

President Joe Biden’s decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race has sent shockwaves through the political landscape. The move, just months before the election, marks a significant shift and has catalyzed a scramble within both parties to realign their strategy. Biden, who has faced increasing scrutiny, acknowledged that stepping aside was necessary to bolster the party’s chances against the Republican nominee, former President Trump. This development mirrors the historic withdrawal of President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1968, a decision that similarly reshaped the Democratic primary dynamics.

In the wake of Biden’s exit, Vice President Kamala Harris has emerged as the nominee for the Democratic Party. Harris, who has been Biden’s running mate since 2020, has quickly garnered substantial support from key New York leaders, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. This swift consolidation of support underscores Harris’ strong position within the party. Her candidacy represents a continuation of the Biden administration’s policies, with an added emphasis on issues such as social justice, healthcare, and economic equality.

Harris’s ascendancy as the prime candidate brings a historic dimension to the 2024 election. If elected, she would become the first woman and the first person of South Asian and African American descent to hold the presidency. This potential milestone is energizing a broad coalition of voters and activists who see her candidacy as a fulfillment of long-held aspirations for greater representation and diversity in American leadership. However, Harris also faces significant challenges, including uniting the Democratic base and appealing to moderate and independent voters, which are crucial for winning the general election.

While originally sticking with President Biden, Governor Hochul has joined Lt. Governor Delgado in supporting Vice President Harris’ bid. Also this week, all 307 of New York State’s delegates to the Democratic National Convention held an informal vote to solidify their support behind Harris.
Cell Phone Bans in Schools Imminent?

Both the New York City Public School System, as well as Governor Hochul, have been discussing banning the use of cell phones in grade schools. New York City School Chancellor David Banks is expected to release guidance soon, while Governor Hochul has been discussing the issue at various roundtables.

This week, Governor Hochul hosted a roundtable in Western New York to discuss smartphone use in schools as part of her statewide listening tour. The session included educators, parents, and stakeholders to gather insights for developing a statewide policy on smartphone usage in schools, aimed at addressing youth mental health issues such as depression and anxiety. This initiative is part of broader efforts, including laws to combat addictive social media feeds and campaigns promoting outdoor activities, to improve the mental health of young people in New York.

Mission for Marcus
June 27, 2024


Hodes & Landy is proud to be the platinum sponsor for the Rotary Club of Delmar’s Mission for Marcus Fundraiser! Mission for Marcus is a Capital Region-based organization working to remove the stigma from substance use disorder. Representing H&L is Michele O’Connor, Matt Landy, and friends.Image